Veronica Greenwood1, Penelope Stanford2, Connor Beddow3, Michael Bowen4, Melanie Hingorani5. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, and British and Irish Orthoptic Society, Birmingham, UK. 2. University of Manchester, and Royal College of Nursing Ophthalmic Nurses Forum, Manchester, UK. 3. Department of Orthoptics, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. 4. College of Optometrists, London, UK. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and UK Ophthalmology Alliance, London, UK. m.hingorani@nhs.net.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: To obtain a picture of the current status, training and governance for advanced practice and extended roles in the ophthalmic hospital non-medical workforce. METHODS: A 10 question, quantitative survey was designed with multidisciplinary members of the UK Ophthalmology Alliance and sent to the membership to obtain information on expanded non-medical roles. RESULTS: 34 of the 58 UKOA member hospitals responded (58% response rate). All responding units were using registered optometrists, orthoptists and nurses to undertake expanded outpatient roles and 28/34 (82%) had expanded roles for undertaking procedures. Some units had large numbers of staff undertaking these roles. There were noticeable trends for certain professional groups to undertake certain roles. For example, nurses were undertaking most procedures, apart from lasers which were mainly delivered by optometrists. Nurses had the lowest banding and optometrists the highest for apparently similar roles. Training was mostly in-house apprenticeship style although some formal external qualifications were undertaken. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmology is developing many innovative roles for the non-medical workforce and, with the launch of the OCCCF training, this is likely to increase. Terminology is confusing and a categorisation suitable for ophthalmology is proposed.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: To obtain a picture of the current status, training and governance for advanced practice and extended roles in the ophthalmic hospital non-medical workforce. METHODS: A 10 question, quantitative survey was designed with multidisciplinary members of the UK Ophthalmology Alliance and sent to the membership to obtain information on expanded non-medical roles. RESULTS: 34 of the 58 UKOA member hospitals responded (58% response rate). All responding units were using registered optometrists, orthoptists and nurses to undertake expanded outpatient roles and 28/34 (82%) had expanded roles for undertaking procedures. Some units had large numbers of staff undertaking these roles. There were noticeable trends for certain professional groups to undertake certain roles. For example, nurses were undertaking most procedures, apart from lasers which were mainly delivered by optometrists. Nurses had the lowest banding and optometrists the highest for apparently similar roles. Training was mostly in-house apprenticeship style although some formal external qualifications were undertaken. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmology is developing many innovative roles for the non-medical workforce and, with the launch of the OCCCF training, this is likely to increase. Terminology is confusing and a categorisation suitable for ophthalmology is proposed.
Authors: Patrick J G Gunn; Rosalind C Creer; Michael Bowen; Cindy Tromans; Andrew Jonathan Jackson; Andrew P Tompkin; Robert A Harper Journal: Ophthalmic Physiol Opt Date: 2022-02-12 Impact factor: 3.992